Comments on: Words for writers to live by — and a contest! http://www.annemini.com/?p=7343 Anne Mini's Blog Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:52:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Anne http://www.annemini.com/?p=7343&cpage=1#comment-27892 Anne Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:31:38 +0000 http://www.annemini.com/?p=7343#comment-27892 Something tells me that quote is going to come in handy, Ian -- and I'm so glad to hear that you've got a thick skin! It's definitely a professional asset. Something tells me that quote is going to come in handy, Ian — and I’m so glad to hear that you’ve got a thick skin! It’s definitely a professional asset.

]]> By: Ian Wood http://www.annemini.com/?p=7343&cpage=1#comment-27882 Ian Wood Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:43:23 +0000 http://www.annemini.com/?p=7343#comment-27882 I usually find at least one tidbit in every post here that results in taking *action.* (In this case: trade publications! Haven't thought about it, now I'm going to subscribe to one, because it makes sense, thanks!) And those actionable tidbits are on top of the rest of the good stuff. Oddly enough, I've never had too much of a problem with getting rejections, which means (probably) one of two things: a) I am actually thick-skinned; or b) I'm not risking enough. I suppose there's a middle choice, too. Which sort of relates to the quote from Hemingway that immediately popped into my head: "The first draft of anything is shit." I'm trying to push on into the endless landscape of Suck that seems to be my current novel-length project, and desperately reminding myself that I don't have to get it right the first time... I usually find at least one tidbit in every post here that results in taking *action.* (In this case: trade publications! Haven’t thought about it, now I’m going to subscribe to one, because it makes sense, thanks!) And those actionable tidbits are on top of the rest of the good stuff.

Oddly enough, I’ve never had too much of a problem with getting rejections, which means (probably) one of two things: a) I am actually thick-skinned; or b) I’m not risking enough. I suppose there’s a middle choice, too.

Which sort of relates to the quote from Hemingway that immediately popped into my head: “The first draft of anything is shit.” I’m trying to push on into the endless landscape of Suck that seems to be my current novel-length project, and desperately reminding myself that I don’t have to get it right the first time…

]]> By: Laurel http://www.annemini.com/?p=7343&cpage=1#comment-27848 Laurel Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:05:16 +0000 http://www.annemini.com/?p=7343#comment-27848 Anne, thanks especially for this gem: "Creative minds are uniquely qualified, unfortunately, to talk their owners out of taking the big risk." So, so true. I found my thoughts flowing in the "why am I doing this at all?" direction as I sat down to dig into more hard slog revising. Thanks for the reminder that the road to success ends for those who step off the path entirely. Anne, thanks especially for this gem:
“Creative minds are uniquely qualified, unfortunately, to talk their owners out of taking the big risk.”

So, so true. I found my thoughts flowing in the “why am I doing this at all?” direction as I sat down to dig into more hard slog revising. Thanks for the reminder that the road to success ends for those who step off the path entirely.

]]> By: Anni T. http://www.annemini.com/?p=7343&cpage=1#comment-27838 Anni T. Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:25:44 +0000 http://www.annemini.com/?p=7343#comment-27838 Rejection is by far the worst part of writing and/or publishing. Lucky for me, the very first response I got from my very first wave of queries was a request for a partial. I can only be thankful that I had that one positive response - especially once the rest of the rejections started trickling in. Even if that partial got an eventual rejection too, I won't forget the delight and elation I felt at the time, and the knowledge that it really isn't impossible to get past the query stage -- so I just have to keep on trying! Rejection is by far the worst part of writing and/or publishing. Lucky for me, the very first response I got from my very first wave of queries was a request for a partial. I can only be thankful that I had that one positive response – especially once the rest of the rejections started trickling in. Even if that partial got an eventual rejection too, I won’t forget the delight and elation I felt at the time, and the knowledge that it really isn’t impossible to get past the query stage — so I just have to keep on trying!

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